I've asked this question since I just went to record a VHS to DVD. I suspect that a scratched Beta would have the same result although I don't recall seeing it.

When I say scratched tape, If you were to open the door of the cassette you would see a horizontal ridge in the tape which I believe is caused by something lodging in the mechanism of the cassette where the tape runs over those metal posts that the tape runs over.

On playback of this tape I see a horizontal line of noise across the screen where the scratch affects playback.

What I was thinking is: Is there software that can either interpolate with reasonable speed from above and below the damage to fill it in, Or possibly just be set to remove those few scan lines and hopefully it won't be noticable? Inexpensively too. I Am on a budget and it's blown from buying the Pioneer DVD Recorder and The JVC VCR I'm planning on getting in the next few days.

there is an avisynth filter call descratch that might be able to fix it if the position of the problem remains pretty constant. Budget wise it suits (free), but I can't vouch for the results or the speed. That's up to you to test out.

Unfortunately I didn't save it, as it was anoying to watch. Also no website. However if/when I remember which one it was I'll have to run it through the ADVC-100 and output a AVI. I was doing a VHS to DVD on a Pioneer DVR-531H when I saw it. And that was the other reason I dumped it. MPEG2 isn't a good place to start for repairs.

I have to say that with the adjustments that I can make with this Recorder before I record I think I can save a lot of time vs using the computer where I was able to do amybe one tape a day and that was if I didn't use the computer for anything else.

So to get back on track I will keep your kind offer in mind for when my mind throws up what tape it was. I use a simple system for what I've already transferred, I write "To DVD" in red sharpie on it. Since I'm keeping them anyway in case technology gets even better in the future.